Decorative attachment for brassiere strap fastener

ABSTRACT

A decorative brassiere attachment for attaching to the strap fastener mechanism of a conventional brassiere so as to provide a display on a wearer&#39;s back that covers the straps of their brassiere. The decorative brassiere attachment has an attachment mechanism with a top side that includes a coupling surface and a bottom side adapted to attach to eyelets on the strap of a conventional brassiere and a decorative element with a decorative aspect designed for stylistic or fashion purposes and a coupling aspect operative to removably attach to the coupling surface. In this regard, by positioning the attachment mechanism in place on the strap fastener mechanism of a conventional brassiere, the decorative element may be attached thereto so as to provide a desired stylistic and/or fashion display from the center of the wearer&#39;s back.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to undergarment accessories and, moreparticularly, to a decorative attachment adapted to be coupled toexisting strap fasteners of a brassiere.

Description of the Prior Art

The design and use of a conventional brassiere, or bra, by women as afoundational garment worn for support over breasts or the chest area iswell known. Typically, brassieres include a pair of opposing straps thatare designed to wrap around the upper body of a wearer and be fastenedtogether so as to allow the brassiere to encircle the wearers body andthereby be secured thereto. Generally, the one of the opposing strapsemploys a hook mechanism while the other employs a corresponding eyeletmechanism so as to allow the opposing straps to releasably engage andattach to one another. A problem which still exists, however, if awearer desires to obscure the straps of their brassiere from view, thewearer is generally required to wear a garment that is cut to cover thestraps. If it is desired to wear a garment having a cut that does notinherently cover the straps it is generally accepted that the brassierestraps will (unfortunately) be exposed.

Thus, there remains a need for a decorative attachment for a brassierestrap fastener which would eliminate the need for a wearer to cover thestraps of their bra with their clothing in order to obscure the straps.It would be helpful if such a decorative brassiere attachment includedan attachment mechanism adapted to be coupled with the existingfastening system of a brassiere. It would be additionally desirable forsuch a decorative brassiere attachment to be useable with variousinterchangeable decorative elements to allow for stylistic or fashionbased selections.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a decorativebrassiere attachment adapted to attach to the strap fastener mechanismof a conventional brassiere and display a decorative element. Theprimary components in Applicant's decorative brassiere attachment are anattachment mechanism and an interchangeable decorative element. When inoperation, the decorative brassiere attachment enables a wearer toaccessorize their back while covering the straps of their brassiere. Asa result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures areremoved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A decorative brassiere attachment for attaching to the strap fastenermechanism of a conventional brassiere so as to provide a display on awearer's back that covers the straps of their brassiere. The decorativebrassiere attachment comprises an attachment mechanism having a top sidethat includes a coupling surface and a bottom side adapted to attach toeyelets on the strap of a conventional brassiere and a decorativeelement having a decorative aspect designed for stylistic or fashionpurposes and a coupling aspect operative to removably attach to thecoupling surface. In this regard, by positioning the attachmentmechanism in place on the strap fastener mechanism of a conventionalbrassiere, the decorative element may be attached thereto so as toprovide a desired stylistic and/or fashion display from the center ofthe wearer's back.

It is an object of this invention to provide a decorative attachment fora brassiere strap fastener which would eliminate the need for a wearerto cover the straps of their bra with their clothing in order to obscurethe straps.

It is another object of this invention to provide a decorative brassiereattachment that includes an attachment mechanism adapted to be coupledwith the existing fastening system of a brassiere.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a decorativebrassiere attachment useable with various interchangeable decorativeelements to allow for stylistic or fashion based selections.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a conventional brassiere strapattachment mechanism built in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 1A is an elevational view of a conventional brassiere strapattachment mechanism built in accordance with the prior art

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an attachment mechanism for a decorativebrassiere attachment built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of an attachment mechanism for a decorativebrassiere attachment built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an attachment mechanism for adecorative brassiere attachment built in accordance with the presentinvention shown slightly transparent while in place on a conventionalbrassiere strap attachment mechanism.

FIG. 5A is a bottom plan view of an decorative element of a first designfor a decorative brassiere attachment built in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 5B is a bottom plan view of an decorative element of a seconddesign for a decorative brassiere attachment built in accordance withthe present invention

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a decorative brassiere attachment builtin accordance with the present invention shown in place on aconventional brassiere strap with a butterfly style decorative element.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a decorative brassiere attachment builtin accordance with the present invention shown in place on aconventional brassiere strap with a pearl style decorative element.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a decorative brassiere attachment builtin accordance with the present invention shown in place on aconventional brassiere strap with a bow style decorative element.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a decorative brassiere attachment builtin accordance with the present invention shown in place on aconventional brassiere strap with a flower style decorative element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 1A, aconventional brassiere 100 typically includes a pair of opposing straps101 which can be releasably fastened together using a strap attachmentmechanism. Generally, such a strap attachment mechanism defines a set ofhooks 102 attached to one of the straps 101 and at least one set ofcorresponding eyelets 103 attached to the other strap 101. In such animplementation, the hooks 102 are engaged with the set of eyelets 103 inorder to fasten the opposing straps 101 together.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 3, and 4, an attachment mechanism 110for a decorative brassiere attachment is shown having a top side and abottom side. In one embodiment, the top side includes a couplingsurface, such as a surface defined by a loop aspect of a fabric hook andloop fastener. In one embodiment, the bottom side includes at least onehook 111 fixed thereto. It is contemplated that the hook 111 may beembodied by the same size and style of hook 102 present on aconventional brassiere strap 101 or otherwise sized and shaped toselectively engage with and attach to the eyelet(s) 103 on aconventional brassiere strap 101. In addition, it is contemplated thatin various embodiments, the bottom side may include substantially anynumber of hooks 111, such as a single hook 111, two hooks 111, or threehooks 111.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, a decorative element 120 for adecorative brassiere attachment is shown having a decorative aspect 121and a coupling aspect 122. It is contemplated that the decorative aspect121 may be sized, shaped and otherwise designed for stylistic or fashionpurposes. In one embodiment, the coupling aspect 122 is operative toremovably attach to the coupling surface. As such, the coupling aspect122 may define in one embodiment a surface defined by a hook aspect of afabric hook and loop fastener. In this regard, when the attachmentmechanism 110 is in place on the strap fastener mechanism of aconventional brassiere, the decorative element 120 may be attachedthereto to provide a desired stylistic and/or fashion display mounted(typically) to the center of the wearer's back.

In one embodiment, the top side may additionally or alternativelyinclude a coupling device, such as one aspect of a snap fastener. Insuch an embodiment, it is appreciated that the coupling aspect 122 woulddefine or otherwise include the opposing aspect of the coupling device.

In one embodiment, it is contemplated that the top side may define aconventional fabric surface and the coupling aspect 122 may define amaterial suitable to ironing on the top side or to stitching to the topside.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9, the use of varying decorativeelements 120 to provide different outward appearances of the decorativebrassiere attachment is shown. Indeed, it is appreciated that theoutward appearances of the decorative brassiere attachment is generallydefined by the decorative element 120 that is used. As such, variousappearances can be selected by a wearer by simply through the selectionof the decorative element 120.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what isconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It isrecognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A decorative brassiere attachment for attachingto a conventional brassiere, comprising: an attachment mechanism havinga top side and a bottom side, wherein said bottom side is adapted toremovably attach to a strap attachment mechanism of a target brassiere;a decorative element having a decorative aspect and a coupling aspect,wherein said top side of said attachment mechanism and said couplingaspect are configured to be selectively attached together such that whenthe attachment mechanism is attached to the strap attachment mechanismof the target brassiere, and the decorative element is attached to theattachment mechanism, the decorative aspect covers the strap attachmentmechanism of the target brassiere.
 2. The decorative brassiereattachment of claim 1, wherein said bottom side includes at least onehook that is configured to engage an eyelet of the strap attachmentmechanism of the target brassiere, thereby adapting the bottom side toremovably attach to the strap attachment mechanism of the targetbrassiere.
 3. The decorative brassiere attachment of claim 1, whereinsaid top side includes a coupling surface adapted to mechanically fastento said coupling aspect, thereby configuring said attachment mechanismand said coupling aspect to be selectively attached together.
 4. Thedecorative brassiere attachment of claim 3, wherein: said couplingsurface defines a first aspect of a fabric hook and loop fastener; andsaid coupling aspect defines a second aspect of the fabric hook and loopfastener that compliments to the first aspect of a fabric hook and loopfastener.
 5. The decorative brassiere attachment of claim 1, whereinsaid top side and coupling aspect include opposing aspects of a couplingdevice, thereby configuring said attachment mechanism and said couplingaspect to be selectively attached together.
 6. A decorative brassiereattachment for attaching to a conventional brassiere, comprising: anattachment mechanism having a top side and a bottom side, wherein saidbottom side includes at least one hook that is configured to engage aneyelet of a strap attachment mechanism of a target brassiere, therebyadapting the bottom side to removably attach to the strap attachmentmechanism of the target brassiere; a decorative element integral withsaid attachment mechanism such that when the attachment mechanism isattached to the strap attachment mechanism of the target brassiere, thedecorative element covers the strap attachment mechanism of the targetbrassiere.